PAF loses one of its finest pilots While at Sargodha, a keen
rivalry had developed between 17 Squadron, commanded by Squadron Leader Azim
Daudpota, and its sister unit, 18 Squadron, led by Squadron Leader Alauddin
('Butch') Ahmed. Thirty-four year old 'Butch' Ahmed was one of the most
dynamic characters in the PAF. The son of a well known eye specialist in
East Pakistan, he was very short in stature but had the heart of a lion. He
also suffered from the-physical disability of having one leg slightly
shorter than the other, but a measure of his forceful personality was the
fact that he nevertheless managed to storm his way Past the PAF medical
board for pilot training despite their stringent standards. Trains have
always presented temting targets for ground attack and the PAF had a notable
encounter of this type on 13 September. On that day, four 32 Wing Sabres led
by 'Butch' Ahmed, accompanied by Flight Lieutenants Saleem , Amanullah and
Manzoor, were making their second offensive patrol of the morning, having
blasted a number of enemy tanks and guns in the Chawinda-Narowal sector soon
after first light. Flying low along the Batala Gurdaspur railway at about
1030 hours the 4 Sabres came across a train on which they dived, only to
pull away without attack when it was identified by Ahmed as carrying
civilian passengers. Reaching the end of their patrol line within distant
sight of the runways at Pathankot, the Sabres set course towards the town of
Gurdaspur still searching for signs of Indian Army activity. In the goods
yard of Gurdaspur station the PAF section had better luck, and a long line
of freight wagons soon yielded some spectacular explosions as the probing
fire from the F-86s set ammunition and military stores ablaze. Pressing home
his attacks to point blank range, 'Butch' Ahmed flew so low that his
aircraft was struck by fragments from the exploding wagons, but with no
apparent damage he continued diving into the thick pall of smoke which
quickly shrouded the scene. Because of the restricted visibility, his last
attack was lower than ever, and his salvo of rockets found a store of high
explosive which engulfed his Sabre in a massive blast of pressure waves and
debris. So violent was the explosion that the other Sabres were buffetted
almost out of control, and 'Butch' had no hope of taking avoiding action.
With Pakistani territory barely 12 miles away-just about one and a half
minute's flying time-he called, "My cockpit is full of smoke", and tried to
head his crippled aircraft towards the west. A moment later he added, "It
seems to be all right now", but those were the last words ever heard from
him. It is known that 'Butch' Ahmed ejected from his burning Sabre, and 2
other F-86s from Peshawar flying in the vicinity were diverted by S/L
'Nosey' Haider to cover him on his way down. PAF aircrafts assisted by Army
L-19s, spent five hours searching the area in an attempt to rescue him. But
Ahmed was dead by the time he reached the ground and is generally thought to
have been shot while hanging helplessly from his parachute. "If he'd reached
the ground alive, nothing on earth could have stopped him from escaping",
was Squadron Leader Haider's comment. A fitting epitaph, perhaps, for one of
the finest and most popular officers in the PAF. Squadron Leader Alauddin
Ahmed was awarded a posthumous Sitara-e-Jurat for "his exemplary leadership,
courage and valour.
quadron Leader Alauddin Ahmed, lead his squadron in twenty combat missions
against the Indian ground and air forces. His leadership throughout the
operations was cool, courageous and most determined which inspired the
greatest confidence amongst pilots of his formations and resulted in
destruction of many Indian tanks and vehicles. In his last sortie, he
attacked and blew up an important ammunition train at rail-head in complete
disregard of his personal safety. During this attack on September 13, his
aircraft was damaged and was reported missing over enemy territory.
Subsequently, it was confirmed that the officer died in this action. For his
exemplary leadership, courage and valor, Squadron Leader Alauddin Ahmed was
awarded Sitara-i-Juraat.

Indian Version

A diesel oil train at the
Gurdaspur railway station was attacked by Sabres. Anti-Aircraft fire hit
and damaged a F-86 Sabre, the pilot of which ejected near the Border.
Pakistan insists the pilot, Sqn. Ldr. A.U. Ahmed, bailed out, but only his
dead body was recovered. He was possible injured severely by A-A fire and
was dead by the time his chute landed on the ground.

Meanwhile the train at
the Gurdaspur railway station had three of its wagons on fire. There was
an immediate danger of the entire train catching fire and blowing up. A
fireman at the railway station, Chaman Lal, took on the task off
uncoupling the burning wagons from the train and save the rest of the
wagons. The three wagons were detached and separated, but Chaman Lal died
of burns. A grateful nation awarded him the Ashoka Chakra.